Slicing machine



Oct. 27, 1931.

W. B. WOLFF SLICING MACHINE Filed May 4, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l oct.27,1'931. W, B WOLF..- 1,829,428

" SLIGING MACHINE Filed May 4, 192s s Smets-sheet 2 Y Y nl* [Wye/@ZarMM/ xfa/ff @y ,L @om oct. 27, 1931. w. B. WOLFF I SLICING MACHINE FiledMay 4. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Get. 27, 1931 UNITED STATES FWALLACE B. WOLFF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR y'TO AMERICAN SLICINGMA- CHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK viiPATENT OFFICEl SLICING MACHINE Application led May 4,

My invention relates to a slicing machine yof a type wherein a circularknife is employed, herein shown as motor driven. One object of theinvention is to provide means for protecting the fingers of the operatorfrom the cutting edge of the knife and, specifically, to provide meansfor substantially entirely shielding the cutting edge of the knife, fromfront and rear, when the device is not actually in use. Anotherobject isthe provision of an adjustable or movable means for shielding thecutting edge of the knife from the front, when the work supportingcarriage is not in use. Another object is the provision of an extensionfor the work supporting Vmember of said cutting carriage, whichextension may be associated with or may be made tomove unitarily with aguard or shield member for the cutting edge of the knife. Other objectswill appear from time to time in the course of the specification andclaims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a front elevation of mydevice;

Figure 2 is an enlarged section along the linev 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective plate;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Figure l;

l Figure 6 is a plan view of a guard plate illustrated in the positionin which it is shown in dotted line in Figure l;

Figure 7 is a partial rear elevation; and

Figure 8 is a front elevation with the parts in a different position.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specication anddrawings.

A indicates any suitable base member upon which is mounted the motor A1with the motor shaft A2 and the pulley A3 about which passes the beltA4.

B generally indicates a rotary knife on the knife shaft B1, associatedwith which is a pulley B2 Aabout which passes the belt A4.

The or portion of the front of the knife view of a guard 1929. SerialNo. 360,401.

is covered or protected by a normally fixed guard plate C, whichincludes arcuate edged portion C1 adapted to be positioned within theforward recesses B3 of the knife. It will be observed that the axis ofthe knife is shown in horizontal plane and is tilted slightly fromperpendicularity in relation to the guard plate C, in order to bring thecutting arc of the knife into or beyond the plane of the guard plate.While I prefer to have the axis of the knife horizontal my invention isnot to be limited to the use of a knife having a horizontal axis.

D generally indicates a rear guard member associated with the hub D1 inwhich rotates the knife shaft B1. In some circumstances it may bepreferable to recess the rear of the knife, as at B4 in order to receivethe edge or periphery D2 of the guard D.

E generally indicates a gauge plate with the arcuate edge E1 generallyconcentric with and opposed to the cutting arc of the knife. Any meansmay be employed to move the gauge plate E toward and away from the planeof the knife, and, preferably, at the same time laterally toward andaway from the edge of the knife. Referring to the dotted line positionof the gauge plate in Figure 6 I illustrate the preferred movement ofthe gauge plate, which is along a path inclined to the cutting plane ofthe knife, in such fashion that the recess of the gauge plate widens thethroat between gauge plate and knife in two directions. However theinvention herein shown is operable with gauge plates which are drawndirectly back from the cutting plane.

Mounted on the gauge plate E I indicate a guard member G, which may beformed integrally with the gauge plate or may be secured thereto as bythe screws G1. It is arcuate in form and includes a portion G2 extendinglaterally toward the knife from the gauge plate and preferably forminggenerally to the contour of the knife. It will be observed from Figure 6that the guard member overlies or overlaps the rear of the errposed arcof the knife as to make itimpossible for the finger of the operatoraccidentally to engage the knife edge along the cutting arc. 'The sizeof the guarding member Gf is such that it eiiciently exercises `itsguarding function, even when the gauge plate is withdrawn to its maximumdepth.

When the gauge plate is closely set, the

' guard portion G2 A,may extend to .or almost to the edge D? oftheguardD. A Howeverthere is suflicientspace between knife and guard member forthe slices to escape after they aref-Leut. tray. generally indicated' asH2 servesto receivethe slices;

In order further to protect the fingers of the operator about theYlowerz arc of thelknife, whether from frontrorvrear, provide an.additional guard member herein shown as adjflllstably mounted on. the.gauge plate.l It

lincludes. the basefpcrtinn J: slotted asat J1 to receigve thevsecuring.' screwsV J2. vProjecting fromV it isfthe,arcuate` guardportion. proper.

- supportedv upcnfthe, ,member K?. In Ithe speciliclform off;.invention.hereinY illustrated K4 isl shown at rightzanglestoK, the

ytwo members lying in .planesgenerallyperpendicular.to,.thecutting,plane.y Ki is .any

'suitablemanualhandl whereby: the meat' carriagejinay. be moved along,the tracks K1 K2, i 1

'f to.. shield' cutting edge of the knife froinrthe; ffrldnt when theydevice, isfnot in, operationI' p'royidea supplemental guard member.Agenerallylindicated, as ,13,'gwhich `may he of, Vany desiredfnrmbut, is'hereinjshown asbounded` at., one'jsid'eA by ther arcuate edge L1..Hereinzshownlas.fbmiedgintegrallyfwith -Y 1, themember Land" ati-ightangles to itv isl the member.L?fwhch, may. behin'ged. as at L3 tothelppe'r4 'edge ofi'the. member K3, in such fashion @that the lnemherLclosely approaches the. 'face of they gaugeplateEiand. the.Y cutting fplane nf`theknife,1but. not .Sufficient-ly closel'v tointerferelwithlfthepassage,o f1`thej carriage.. 3 When itis desired tomove the member Liinto parallelism. with; theni'emberY K?, injorderthatj-itgmay serve as., an extension thereoths adjustment ,may vbeobtainedas follows., rllhe. thumb nutlLshownin Figure 3,l normally islinQs'uch, position as to exert tensionup'onfthe rodlL whichfinturn drawsupongltheclainping member L6 which isfapertured-.asg at L? topermit thepas- Figure l, at which time the thumb nut L,

can again be drawn V'Note that the pin L5 is positioned in a sleeve L10which is rotatably mounted in the carriage K in order to compensateyforfthe-.fchanges in angle ,oflthe rod' L?. They sleeve.isapertured as-`at L11 to permit the passage 'of the rod therethrough, and tliedrawingin upon the pin L clamps the rodagainstthe edges of the apertures. TheledgeL12v of the Asleeve `L10 bears against the carriage K, to complete.the .clamping action and to properly position or space the Vadjustingmechanism.,

Referring fory .example to li`igureslY Va-nd c,V whenV the carriage isin the positionin which it is'shown in Figure l, the carriage beingatthe end'of thel cutting excursion., the member L Amasks thevcuttingedger of the knife. lIn order to mask the cutting .edge ofl the knifewhenthe carriage is atl theopposite end of its excursion, before thecutting` stroke, I provide a shield MA which lmay be secured to orassociated with the carriage K'orv to the work-supporting member K4: inany suitable manner. I have indicated it, however, as a separate elementsecured to the carriage K asatrM1'.. The device includes a bodyportionVMe which protectsV the lower portionof 'he 'cutting edge [and the upwardcrescent shapedfextension M3 which is herein illustrated as extending'almostlto t-he top of-v the gauge plate E or the guard plate C. It willberealized of coursethat I- do not wish to be limited'v precisely toanyA particular form 0r securing means, the essential being; that Iprovidea guardwhich Voverlies orprotects the cutting edge of the knifewhen the carriagey is withdrawn to, itsinitial positionp prior to thecutting stroke;

It will be Vrealized that whereas I; have'deW scribed and shown apractical and operative device, neverthelessmany changes might be madein theV size, shape, number and disposition of lvparts without'departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wishmydescription and drawings to be taken as in abroad sense illustrative anddiagrammatic rather than as limiting me to specific showing. V,i f j Theuse-'and operation of'my invention are as follows: l

In the employment of an electrically operated'rotary knife slicing'-machine, theknife edgerotates'at a very high'rateV of speed andwould'ztherefore be dangerous to a careless operator'if not properlyprotected. The slicing machine herein describedand shownJ reduces the'hazards to a minimum'. The opere ator is protected, on the rear sideofthe knife, tothe degree that it is practically impossible forinvoluntarily engaging the cutting edge of the knife, the cutting4 edgebeing protected from contact as by the guardsv G2 and J 3. Such portionof the knife edge asis not protected by the said two guards is housedWithin the frame or housingof the slicing machine and cannot be touched.

As to the front of the machine, hovvever, it is inevitable that acertain portion or are of the knife edge must be exposed during thecutting portion since otherwise the Work to be cut cannot engage thecutting edge. The lower arc of the knife is protected from the front, asWell as the rear, as for example by the guard J3. at least When theguard plate is in neutral position] In any case, as clear from Figure l,the carriage and the tracks on which the carriage rides preventunintended approach to the lower arc of the knife. The upper arc of theknife, Where the cutting actually takes place, is necessarily exposedduring the cutting operation. The guard L, however, masks the cuttingedge of the knife when the carriage is left at the end of the tracks K1K2, in the position in which it reaches at the end of a cuttingexcursion. I/Vhen the gauge plate is in neutral, as shown in the fullline position in Figure 6, the edges mask from front as Well as rear,regardless of the position of the carriage. However, the operator mayWish to leave the gauge plate in adjusted position. for example in thedotted line position of Figure 6, as when he interrupts temporarily thecutting opera-` tion. In such case he may protect his cutting edge bymerely leaving the carriage at the end of its excursion, in the positionin Which it is shown in Figures l and 6. When in such position the guardplate L on the carriage masks the cutting edge of the knife and thedevice may safely be left, and no opportunity is given for an unintendedapproach of the fingers to the cutting edge.

In the form of carriage herein shown I find it extremely desirable toprovide an ex tension to the supporting member K3. Such a support is ofvalue as providing a support-- ing surface more extended than the onenormal to the member K3, as When it is desired to decrust bread orderind bacon or cut bacon or other substances in larger masses than usual. For example, when my machine is employed in the English market, thesize of the bacon is considerably larger than the size which is commonlysold in the United States and the use of the extension L2, which mightnot be necessary for cutting bacon in the United states, becomesimportant in cutting the larger pieces of bacon sold in the Englishmarket.

Note that I have so proportioned the parts that when the member L2 is inthe dotted line position in Figure 1 the member L still coverssubstantially all of the cutting edge, or leaves uncovered only a verysmall arc at the top of the cutting edge. This small arc, however. isprotected by the outward extension of the member L2 Which makes itdicult and in the highest degree unlikely, for t-he operator to approachhis lingers to the restricted cutting edge left uncovered.

Note also that When the member L2 is in the full line position, as shownin Figure l it exerts this additional masking effect. Thus, when thecarriage is at the initial posit-ion, to the left of the track shown inFigure l, the operator may freely grasp the handle KG of the carriage orthe edge of the portion K3 of the carriage. If he moves his hand alongthe edge of the portion K3 toward the cutting edge of the knife lieengages not only the edge K2", as shown in Figure 6 but also theupstanding edge of the member L2, which serves the double function ofactually limiting the movement of the operators hand to- Ward thecutting edge and of giving Warning, by touch, that the cutting edge isbeing approached.

Referring to the posit-ion of the carriage in Figures l and 8, note thatthe element L protects the cutting edge when the carriage is at oneextremity of its movement and the member M protects the cutting edgewhen the carriage is at the other extremity of its movement, prior tothe cutting excursion. The knife edge being shielded When the carriageis at either end of its stroke, the edge is exposed only intermediatethe stroke. If, as in the form shown in the present drawthe member Mformed separately from the V-trough K3, its face lies preferably in aplane identical ivi-th or slightly to the rear of and closely adjacentto the plane of the edges of the V-trough K3 which must closely approachthe cutting plane of the knife. It is also important that when thedevice is in the position shown in Figure l the lower or body portion M3of the guard M shall not project sufliciently to the right to strike anoperator or passerby. I may form the guard of any suitable material andmay for example use thin sheet metal.

In the use of the device, if the gauge plate is in neutral position, ofcourse the cutting edge of the knife is protected. If the gauge plate isWithdrawn from the cutting edge of the knife. the cutting edge isprotected When the carriage is left at either limit of its excursion.The cutting edge is also substantially protected by the carriagestructure itself at some intermediate point on its excursion. In suchcase the cutting edge is to a degree exposed, but it is so far masked bythe intervening position of the carriage that accident and Contacttherewith is unlikely. In other Words the combination of guards Idisclose ierein provides a very substantial protection for the cuttingedge, as complete and continuous protection it is possible to give thecuttingedge and stillleave it free'to perform; its cutting lfunction.`

l?, .claim i Y l Inzassociationwith a slicing machine in cludmg a.;rotary knife and means forrotat-A4 ing'lt, ai Workgsupporting member.andnieansf for-guiding infor-movement pastthefcutinl lthe general: planeci' said elemen-t, and in aplane inclined thereto.

. Infassociation: With a slicingmachine including arotary kniffe andmeans forrotating; it,ia Work supporting means and means for guidingitypast the cutting; edge ofvr the knife and an extension pivoted tooneedge ofy saidwvork' supportingy member for rotation about anyaX-isgenerally perpendicular tothe path 'of the Work supporting means.4av In association with a slicing machine including ay rotary knife andmeans for rotating it, a Work supporting means. and? meansorfguidingfitpast the cutting' edge of the knifeand.an-^extensionpivoted to one edgeofsaid Work supporting member, land a guard member, associated with saidextension and adapted to move 'unitarily` therewith, saidguard,memberfbeingl adapted toy overliethe cuttingjedgeofthe knife whenthe Work supporting memberzis at' aV predetermined positionadjacentthelimit of its movement past the`l cuttingf'edge of the knife.

5; In' yassociation With al slicing machine including aa rotary knifeand'means for rotating it, a Work supporting means and means *forguiding it past the cutting edgeofy the knife and anextensionpivoted-toone-edge of said. work supporting member, and a guard member,associated Withsaid extension and adapted to move unitarily therewith,said guard member being adapted .to overlie the numana tension: beingadaptedywhenfini one position-,"1

to'v extend thezzavailable. supporting; area.. of

the work supporting means, and beingadapted; when in: anotherpositionytof serve as a. guard tot prevent'the approach-y ofithezlinger.

knife.

7. In. association=With`a"slicing machine including -ay rotary 'knife'andmeans forzrotatextension for they work` supporting-member when in:one.- position and 'adapted to. serve, When lin another position, as'lafguard to pre? ventthefapproach ofthe hand. of the'opera'- tor, andi anadditional' guardfmember adapt-V ed to "mask thecuttinglarc of the knifeWhenV the .Work supporting memberis moved ypast the cutting arc ofthe-knife. y

- 8'. In association Witha'slicing' machine including a rotagryknifeandfmeanslor rotating it, a` Worksupporting member and@ means forguiding'it past the cutting-edge oftlie knife; said Work supportingmemberiincluding'a plurality of Worksupporting'elements lying in planesgenerally' perpendicular. to: the cutting planeof the knife', said:elements being atan angle .in relationv toeach other,y

- andan extension pivoted tothe outenedgeof Vone of said elementsA forVrotation about an' 'axis1 generally perpendicular` to.- the; path of.

movement. .of :the Work' supporting member..

Signed at' Chicago;countyV oCo'ok andi- State of Illinois, tliislQth'-dayof April', 1929;.

f v WALLACE B.WOLFF`.

cutting. edge of the knife when the Work supporting member is at apredetermined position adjacent the limit of its movement :ast thecutting edge-0f the knife, and means for securing the extension andguard 'member l. inVV adjusted' position.v

6. In association with a slicing machine including. a rotary knifeandmeans for rotating it, a Work supporting meansy and means for guidingitv past the cutting edge of the knife and an extension pivoted to oneedge oflv said.work supporting membensa-id exofv the operatorL to thecutting edge of. the'

